Note Saver

I will admit it . . . I am a note saver! I absolutely treasure the notes that my kids leave for me.  I have saved every one in binders because I just can't bear the thought of tossing them in the trash.  Last night, Tom and I went to dinner with my dear friend, Caree who was just recently engaged!  She has gone through a really rough divorce and  has been single (with 4 children) for about 4 years now.  She has finally met a man who treats her like a queen and is her "soulmate" (Caree says).  I couldn't be happier for her!

    

(sorry for the camera phone photo, but here we are at CPK)

Anyway, on my way home, Hailey called me and said, "Mom, you need to come home right now!  I drawed you a picture and you need to see it!"  She sounded really sad and when I got home, here is what I found:

Let me translate it for you:  Dear Mom and Dad, I missed you so! so! so! so! . .  much.  Look at this picture!  Look Look at it please, please!  (then at the top this is the part that just crushed me:  there is a heart and it says "hole" (whole), "half", "more," "brokin" (broken), then finally "pises" (broken in pieces.)  Is that sad or what?  I was only gone about 2 hours but to her, it must have seemed like forever!  We hugged for a long time after that.

 This is another note that I thought was so super cute.  I had to leave one afternoon to pick up my older son from football and Kelsey also was getting ready to be picked up for dance class.  Spencer was at scouts, so there was nobody else in the house.  Hailey had fallen asleep on the family room floor after school (little kindergartners get really tired!) and she looked so peaceful that I didn't want to wake her up.  I called Tom, and he was on his way home but Hailey would be alone for about 5-10 minutes.  I knew she would probably stay asleep and wouldn't even know she was alone, but her older sister, Kelsey, was really worried about it and left her this note, in case she woke up:

 Some things I love about Kelsey --she crossed out her name and wrote, "Secret Angel."  She likes to do nice things anonymously - what a great character trait.  She also pays close attention to detail, like taking the time to "burn" the edges of the note to give it a mysterious look.  I loved it!  She did tell me though, that she burned the edges OUTSIDE and not in the kitchen.  Phew!   Still, it was a very thoughtful thing to do.  That's just like my Kelsey.  :)


My boys are not big note writers.  Spencer has written some and I have saved every one.  But Kohler . . . not so much now that he is in high school.  But that's ok. The ones I do get from him (Mother's Day, Christmas) mean so much.  It's just so fun to see your child take the initiative to write something on their own and see how they interpret things.  I love it!

Best Job in the World

Yesterday, as I was running myself crazy trying to get everything done that I needed to, I just kept having this thought go through my mind:  I have the Best Job in the World!  Despite what the world would say that keeping house, grocery shopping, cleaning and cooking are not as glamorous as other careers, I am extremely happy doing what I do.  Tom came home at 11:30 for lunch and by then I had already taken a one hour body combat class (it's like kick boxing ---my arms are sore today!), I had gone grocery shopping at Walmart and made a huge trip to Costco.  When he walked in the house, the counter was FULL of food needing to be put away.  I looked at him and said, "You know----I really love being a mother.  I love driving all over town getting things for my family, coming home and putting them away, then cooking a nice dinner for them.  I really am so happy---"  It's the truth.  

This was taken on Mother's Day, 2011 - Hailey made me a card!

Mother's Day 2011 - Spencer's book to me!

Now, having said that, I know that I need to spread my wings and develop myself and MY interests more so that when my family all grows up and leaves home I will not crash and burn.  (even though that will most likely happen because the thought of them leaving makes me so sad!)  So, I am trying to develop new talents of writing music.  It's so fun for me and I really love doing it.  I just find it really hard to sit down and give myself the time when I know there are so many others things that need to be done.  This week, I am going to really carve out some time----even if it's just 10 min. a day---that would really make a difference.  I wrote another new song last week---the melody is so pretty but Tom and I need to take time to work on the lyrics.  Plus, I am still behind in putting three other songs on my computer.  That is what takes the most time- entering the notes on my songwriting program.  But, I'm not giving up---I need to do this.  I know I have been given a gift of music and I just need to take more time to OPEN the gift and use it.  Just like my friend said in her testimony that I commented on yesterday---how can I be truly grateful for something that I have not taken the time to study and understand?  OK - I'm adding this to my "To Do" list!!

I am thankful

Today the weather in AZ is nice and cool.  We had a pretty good rainstorm last night which cooled everything down.  I've worn a sweatshirt all day and it feels great!  We had a really fun weekend just being together as a family.  But the thoughts that are mainly in my mind today are how thankful I am for the church.  Yesterday was such a fantastic testimony meeting. One of our laurels shared a beautiful testimony of her love of the scriptures.  She said that one day she was thinking, "How can I be grateful for the scriptures if I've never taken the time to really study them and get to know them?"  So, she did and bore the sweetest testimony of how the words of Nephi has helped her in so many personal ways.  (her parents recently have divorced).  What an insightful thing to say----that really touched me and has motivated me today to study and get to know my scriptures better so I can truly be grateful for them.  


Also, I am thankful for good YM Leaders. Last Friday night, the YM leaders took the boys out for pizza and spent time talking and getting to know the boys better.  Then, on Saturday morning, Kohler had to wake up at 5:45 a.m. and go with his Priests Quorum to the Mesa Airport and participate in a "Fly-In."  (an activity where scouts were able to go up in a small plane, some were able to fly the plane in the co-pilot's seat, and visit the control tower).  Anyway, it was really hard for Kohler to wake up.  His YM leader, and our good friend Eric Peterson, came over to pick him up.  He had to wait a little because Kohler was just dragging his feet.  Then, as he walked down the stairs he said, "Kohler, you are getting so STRONG!  I arm wrestled you last night and I will  never do that again.  If I do, you'll kill me!"  Bro. Peterson began to laugh and Kohler cracked a smile and even a slight laugh came out.  I watched this leader buoy up Kohler instead of saying, "Dude - we are all waiting for you--Cmon!!"  He slowly transformed Kohler just by his words and actions.  When they left, I looked over at Tom and said, "Now, there's a great leader---Kohler knows he is loved."

Then, last night, our Kelsey couldn't sleep.  She is really nervous because today was her first rehearsal for her string chamber ensemble (which she auditioned for and made it!! - she plays violin).  But even more than that, cheerleading tryouts start today after school and she really wants to make the squad.  There are only 20 spots and over 100 girls trying out.  I think she will be great but she is uneasy about the competition.

Here is Kelsey at a Stadium of Fire Rehearsal.  She is the only one smiling in the middle.  I think she would make a great cheerleader!  

 So, after giving her some Ibuprofen PM and telling her to read more, she still couldn't fall asleep.  She came downstairs once again and asked her dad for a blessing.  Tom gladly did and said some wonderful things to her.  One thing he said that stood out in my mind was when he told her that no matter what the outcome of this week is, the tremendous blessings and angelic attributes Heavenly Father has given her will remain with her.  Nobody can take them away.  That really comforted her.  She must have fallen asleep after that because she didn't come downstairs after that.  Again ---I am SO thankful . . .  

New T-Shirt Design for Chamberlain Ortho

Tom came home yesterday wearing our new t-shirt designed by my awesome brother, Tony Davis!!!  He is so incredibly talented and captured EXACTLY what Tom was envisioning.  It is designed to look like an Ed Hardy style t-shirt and we could not be more happy with how it turned out!  He wore the t-shirt last night to the open house of our west side office (New Image Ortho) and tons of dentists were asking about the design because they went nuts over it!  (Tony, you may be getting a few calls - you are becoming famous around here!!)

 It's hard to tell from this picture, but the braces on the skull are actually a shiny silver color and they really stand out on the design.  

 Our kids gave it "two thumbs up" and they are all wearing their new Chamberlain Ortho shirts today.  You know if the teenagers like the design and will wear it to High School and Jr. High, you have succeeded!  Way to go, Tony!!

What cute little "walking advertisements!"  ha ha

Ahh, the great smells of autumn

Back in dental school, a good friend of mine shared a recipe with me that I dubbed, "Autumn Porkchops."  I tweaked it a little and changed a few things and it turned out so great.  I was totally in the mood to make them last night and boy did it make my house smell delicious!!!  I browned some pork chops then placed them in a baking dish.  Then, sauteed a small onion in some olive oil, added some sliced sweet and white potatoes, sliced granny smith apples, and about 1 tsp. of pumpkin pie spice, salt and pepper.  After the veggies were coated, I mixed about 3/4 cup fresh apple cider with 1 T. cornstarch and added it to the pan.  It makes such a yummy sauce.  Then,  I poured everything on top of the porkchops and let it bake for about 1 hour at 375.  (the white potatoes were cut a little too thick and they were still a little un-done, so I would slice them pretty thin).  We devoured every morsel.  It was SO good!!!

After dinner, Tom and the kids got Rider super hyper by teasing him with their hands.  For some reason, Rider loves to play with their hands.  He grabs them (doesn't bite) and thinks it's so fun.  They were taunting him and throwing their hands in the circle and it was making the poor dog go CRAZY!

 More taunting!  ha ha

Also, I just had to throw this picture in.  I saw this on our front door this morning and had to laugh.  Of course, Spencer wrote these adorations about himself!  ha ha  (by the way, "sick" now means very "cool!")  I had to laugh----I love my Spencer!!

Garage Sale News

 Saturday we had a garage sale.  It was the first one we've had since living in Arizona and boy, did we ever need one.  We got rid of a ton of stuff and whatever did not sell, was hauled off to Goodwill.

 The kids helped clean out their closets and the toy room (except Kohler because he was in Africa.)  So, Tom and I felt like since they put this garage sale together, they should get the money for the work.

 It took a lot of effort to put this together, organizing everything and labeling prices.  Our brand new wardrobe hanger even busted  so we had to run to Walmart late the night before to exchange it for another one.

  It was a great experience for the kids, though, to see other families come with their pocket change and purchase things for themselves and their children.

 Spencer and Hailey even got our play cash register to use as a calculator and they pretended it was our "store!"  So cute!!!

 Even Rider wanted to be part of the fun so we tied him up to the truck so he could see what was going on without bugging all of the people.  

 When it began to get really warm outside, Hailey tried to give Rider some shade.  That's sweet, Hailey!!

 Here's the gang, making plans for where we are going to eat out for breakfast!

Here I am ---saying, "This is it!  30 more minutes and we are packing it up!"  ha ha  We made a grand total of $126 (a lot of work for not a lot of money) - but Spencer and Kelsey earned some good spending money for  Christmas gifts.  Hailey earned about 25 quarters which thrilled her because now she can buy more squishees at school!   Tom and I took the family out to breakfast and a movie afterwards which probably ended up costing about $126---but you know, it was a great family experience and we had a lot of fun just being together!  Spencer looked up at me during the sale and said, "Mom, this is SO MUCH fun!  I've never done a garage sale before!"  You know, those are the moments that make life sweet and suddenly all that work was worth more than any dollar amount.

Happy Halloween!

We have a tradition every year - and that is to cook Halloween dinner in a pumpkin!  My mom used to do this and it's such a fun tradition. We decided to have the dinner on the day before Halloween because usually Halloween night is crazy with excited kids getting ready and nobody wants to sit down to a family dinner.  The kids wanna get out and run for the candy!!  Here is how we made the dinner in a pumpkin:

  First, we started out with a healthy breakfast of Halloween chocolate chip muffins!  ha ha  Then, we cleaned out our pumpkin and toasted the seeds.  Yummy!

 Then, we put 1/2 cup water and 2 T. butter inside the pumpkin, covered the top with foil, and baked it for about 1 hour and 20 minutes at 350 degrees until the pumpkin was tender inside.

 This is what it looked liked after we baked it.  

 One year I tried to cook the stew INSIDE the pumpkin - that doesn't work!  You need to cook the stew in a crock pot, THEN transfer it into your pumpkin.  

As we serve the stew, we like to scrape off some pumpkin and serve it in the same bowl.  It is REALLY good.  Tom likes a lot of pumpkin (this is his bowl!)

 Sunday night, (before Merlin of course!) we carved our pumpkins.  It's so much fun to put on creepy music and gross out at the slimy seeds that come out of the pumpkin.  We call it the pumpkin GUTS!

 EEWWW!

I think they turned out really cute.  It's a little pumpkin family!

 Yesterday, after our crazy costume fiasco, I went and helped for 2 1/2 hours running between parties for Spencer's and Hailey's classrooms.  This is Spencer with his teacher Mr. Doutrich and his good friend, Tanner Day.

 I love the look on Spencer's face!

 Here is Hailey with her good friend, Avery Myers (I was a laurel advisor to her mom back in Portland, Oregon.  Crazy, huh!)

 This is Hailey with her kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Silviera.  

 This is Hailey in the annual Book Character Parade (aka . Halloween Parade!)

 Kids would give them High Five's as they walked past their rooms.  It was so much fun!

At the end, the principal, Mr. Hallock, announced the scores from the AMES state testing.  Once again, our school received an "A" rating (one of only 5 schools out of 26 schools in the district).  Way to go Quartz Hill Students!